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9/11 Ground Zero: Comprehensive Private Tour
4.9
58 Ratings
New York
Explore the hallowed grounds of Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial on a comprehensive private tour. Hear stories of tragedy and heroism from a local guide with a personal connection to the events.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- St. Paul’s Chapel - The tour begins one block from Ground Zero at a historic church, built in 1766, that miraculously survived the falling debris from the attacks. Your guide will explain how this beautiful church served the community in the wake of the tragedy.
- 9/11 Memorial Pools - Pay your respects to those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center on 9/11. Your guide will share the meaning behind all the symbolic places in the memorial plaza, including the Survivor Tree and “Reflecting Absence,” which is the largest man-made waterfall on the continent.
- The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum - Skip the line to enter the 9/11 Museum where you’ll take a self-guided tour through the collections of media, memorabilia, historic artifacts, and more.
- One World Observatory - Ride the “SkyPod” elevator up 1,250 feet to see breathtaking views of Manhattan from This 360-degree observation deck. The deck spans three levels and includes the See Forever Theater, immersive LED displays, touch-screen video, and dining.
What's Included
- Views from 150 feet up in the One World Observatory with the highest panoramic views in NYC
- Self-guided tour of the lobby of Freedom Tower with the film ‘Voices’
- Visit to the meaningful sites of Ground Zero
- Moment of reflection at the ‘Reflecting Absence’ fountains
- A private guide who shares stories about their personal connection to 9/11
- Skip-the-line ticket for the 9/11 Museum, featuring historic artifacts, art, and themed exhibits
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
This deeply personal tour of Ground Zero begins at the site of what served as a rescue center for victims and place for mementos after the attacks: St. Paul’s Chapel. The historic church was miraculously unharmed when the Twin Towers fell.
You’ll then walk to the 9/11 Memorial where we’ll reflect on the lives lost in the World Trade Center attacks. See “Reflecting Absence,” the largest man-made waterfalls on the continent. Your private guide will share the meaning behind the memorial, stories from the day, and how New Yorkers came together in the aftermath.
Afterward, visit the 9/11 Museum with your skip-the-line ticket for a self-guided tour of the exhibits and artifacts. Next, walk over to Freedom Tower. In the lobby, you can watch “Voices,” a film about the Twin Towers and Freedom Tower, before riding the SkyPod elevator 1,250 feet up. Visit the tri-level One World Observatory for panoramic views of NYC, immersive LED displays, and the See Forever Theater.
- A moderate amount of walking is involved. Please wear comfortable shoes
- Please dress appropriately and bring layers in case of cold weather
- Children 5 and under free with paid adult ticket
Location
St. Paul's Chapel
Broadway
We do NOT meet at the 9/11 Memorial. Tour meets OUTSIDE the Broadway entrance to Saint Paul's Chapel (209 Broadway between Fulton & Vesey Streets)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(58 Ratings)
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Punzer26
Aug 29, 2024
Very worthwhile tour - We really enjoyed this tour. Our guide, Helene was really friendly and very knowledgable about the whole area- she covered points on history and architecture as well as the events around 9/11. We had 2 teens with us on an incredibly hot, humid day but Helene kept everyone cool, shaded and totally engaged as she talked animatedly and interestingly for more than 1 and a half hours. She was very helpful in guiding us past the queue at the museum and straight into the security checks. We all thought the museum was excellent but underestimated its size and the time it would take to go around - worth spending couple of hours minimum. The observatory was great too - no queues and fantastic views of Manhattan. Helene’s tip to have cameras out and eyes open in the elevators was a great one. A great day out and well worth the cost.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eliane
Aug 9, 2024
Educational and interesting tour - Jimmy was our private tour guide. He was a nice guy very knowledgeable, informative and patient to answer all our questions. He used to live 1 mile from all the events that happened on 9/11, and it was very interesting to hear all his stories about that day. We all were very happy with this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Missin2
Jun 17, 2024
The Impact of the Fall of the Twin Towers - Julie did a fabulous job telling us about 9/11 and how her life was personally affected. Her description of where she was when the planes hit the twin towers and what it took for her to safely return home that day is something I will never forget. Making the impact of 9/11 personal allowed my 13 year old grandson to better understand how life was forever changed after the towers fell.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karenv736
Apr 26, 2024
911 Tour. - Jaclyn. She is very knowledgeable and a joy to listen to. In addition to the facts, she added Stories and feelings. She had some information that we weren’t aware of already.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adam
Apr 8, 2024
David is a superstar!! - David was sensational!! He knows his stuff, is very friendly and informative. Highly recommend David for those looking for a great tour with a personal touch.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peterbaker40
Apr 5, 2024
Iconic visit - Thought provoking tour with excellent guide Daniel M
Iconic places in New York that should be on everyone’s must do list
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cynthia_b
Apr 2, 2024
Amazing experience! - Alice was an amazing and well informed guide! She was a great story teller and we loved her tips and side stories. We highly recommend her and the private tour!
Review provided by Viator
Raychellel2024
Mar 5, 2024
911 All access tour. - Dana our host was absolutely amazing. Her links to 911 were so touching and made the event much more special. I would recommend attending this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer62691415066
Sep 2, 2024
Ran out of time - Helene was a nice lady with a lot of knowledge on the history of NY and 9/11. If you are looking to go at a slow pace and get a lot of detailed information then this tour works for that. If you are short on time then you can probably skip this and just get straight to the museum and observatory. The museum is really where you’ll want to spend the bulk of your time. We didn’t get to spend as much time in the museum as we would have liked because we had other reservations and the guided part with Helene went a lot slower than we hoped. But regardless we got lots of cool information and had a good experience overall.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peter_s
Dec 23, 2023
Tour guide is a nice touch - It was a nice experience to have a guide. Jim was kind and knowledgeable. There is a lot to see and understand about the days events and having someone with a person experience gives you a further look into the day and the days after.
Review provided by Viator
